WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 61, 12 March 1877, Page 4

WAIMEA ROAD BOARD.

Saturday, March 3

Present: Messrs White (chairman), Bell, Win, and Tunnicliff. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Overseer made the following report; — "I tiave not thrown open the by-roads at Stoke on account of parlies interested therein wishing, previously lo my doing so, to interview the Board. Several inhabitants of Richmond wished me to bring before your notice the state of the streets here, and to enquire if something could not be done 'to them. Application is also made to be furnished with timber for the erection of a bridge by Mr Hunt's, all labor to be borne by the applicants. Mr G. Castle should be instructed to clear cut bis ditch, and cut and grub his furze on the cemetery road. A new culvert will be required on the Appleby road; I think it would be better to have brick walls and a Umber top. Whatever works are going to be undertaken on the Moutere Hills this season should not be delayed. In Redwood's Valley the ditch cut by Mr E. Sigglekow has caused a portion of the road to be washed away, the same ditch being now more than twenty-four feet wide. It would be better and cheaper to purchase a road to connect the present line with that passing through £berhardt's section, as it will be necessary to erect a bridge which will cost at least £40 to make the present road passable. I have examined the bridge in Eve's Valley, by Mr Andrews', and can see nothing particular the matter with it; the timber appears sound, and will probably last sometime. In Eighty-eight Valley a deposit of shingle has been removed out of the stream by Mr Cole's, and the material used to gravel about 10 chains of the road, cost £7 2s, Mr Price has completed his contract for lengthening Beli Grove horse bridge. The river here requires some protective works and a channel cut to give it a straight course. The amount expended here in making a temporary crossing and filling up the proper approaches is £18 11s; the same is not finished and will cost a further sum of £5. According to your instructions 1 put on a number of huads and made the road in Dovedale passable as quickly as possible. I found most of me culverts washed away, and some targe gaps, some 20 feet wide right across the road. I have put in a framed bridge by Mr Win's, the cost of which is £14 2s. There are two others required, one by Mr Best's ami the other at Blue Creek. I have now discharged all the extra assistants with the exception ot two, who are necessary for at least auolher month. In Pigeon Valley the stream by Mr Joseph Price's is now playitsg fair on to the road, and unless a channel is cut to straighten its course will carry away the road. Tenders should at once be called for the supply of horses and carts for the ntxt six months. lam in waut of some spare bridge timber, as nearly the whole that was in stock has beeu used. The amounts expended in the different sub- ! dibtricts during the past month are as follows:— Stoke, £14 7s 61; Waimea East, £9 18a; Spring Grove, £9 16a 6J; Waiuiea West, £9 19i 6j; Wukefield, £23 sd; Dovedale, £52 2s. Resolved, Tout the Board supply ihe required timber for tbe bridge near Mr Huut'a at Richmond, and that tenders be invited for foraiiug the adjoining street; also (or improving a portion of (be road on the Moutere Hills, That the Overseer aud Surveyor examine the by-road by Mr Sigglekow's and report," and that the Overseer {jet the necessary work done on Pigeon Valley road. Six tenders were received for making a portion of the road between Thorpe and Orinoco Valley. The lowest, O» Davlee, at £113 15-), waa accepted, and tenders ordered to be invited (or supplying hordes and carts, Also for renting Suburban South Toll Gate. A letter was received from Mr H, Batt, remonstrating against the watercourse through his land being cleared out, as not being likely to benefit the road, while it would injure his lund. It beii»# an undoubted watercourse, the Overseer was directed to carry out his instructions. Letters were received from Mr Curtis,in reply to the application respecting ihe reserve in Poor Man's Valley, stating that the land cannot be used as it cemetery without the authority of an Act of the General Assembly, and enclosing a copy of a letter from certain owners of property urging that the land shall not ba used for that purpose. The Secretary reported having scut notices of valuation to all occupiers nnd owners, and that it would be desirable to atk tor ud extecsioa of time beyoud that stated in the coticeo already scut out, in order that tbe requisite corrections might be made. This lie was directed to do. A letter was received from Mr T-, Freeman, at Thorpe, requesting the Board to make passable for a dray the xoaJ leading to his laud. As this road would ba o£ ueuerit only to Mr Freeman, ihe rtquyst could not he complied with, as die Bu&td bus b«e» obliged to refuse other similar application. Mr J. buU»edy attended aud claimed compensation for the track now used as & road over the shingle bi^fi between Appleby Bridge and tbe road turpugb 'Arinatroug'ri. As there is a site for a ynblic road very near the track, whieii, though not available at present is likely soon to be, as tUo shingle is making at that place, it was not, couaiderad advisabla to purchase, aad it was therefore considered advisable to

offer Mr Satherly £1 per annum as long as required, for a right to deviate. A letter was received from several occupiers of land at Stoke, in reference to the Board's requisition that all obstructions on roads ehall be removed, requesting the Board's consideration of the following points ; — l, That these roads only lead to the lands occupied by the applicants, and not to any place of public interest. 2. That to fence these roads on both sides would be a serious and unnecessary expense to the occupiers without benefitting anyone. 3. That it would be almost impossible to fence the roads in some places, and in others, if they were fenced they would be impassable from the nature of the ground, and the whole of the road would very soon be overgrown with rubbish, 4. That in places where the Board thinks it necessary we are willing to substitute swing gates for bars. 5. That we do not know any instance where parties having a legitimate object in view, have been refused permission to use the private ways, which have been made for pur own benefit, and which are the only roads available; in'"' florae- places. 6. That tlie only parties who can have any grounds of complaint are poachers, wbo : übo them in the pursuit of rabbits.^pigs^game, &c, and who bring doge with them not only to the disturbanop, but frequently to the injury of our flocks. 7 That we have no desire to claim any right to ;shut'.up : these ro>ds, arid to^prevent atjydbubta i that the Board might entertain in that respect, we are willing to , pay a small annual acknowledgement, say ss. After considerable diacussion, it was resolved that the letter be, referred to the Overseer and Surveyor to 1 report on. Mr Joseph Simmondß applied by letter that the Board would provide him with a road which will enable him to reach the Wai-Hi bridge, when the riyer is in a slate of flood, he not having, at present, any other way of reaching a trunk road than by going through the river. Resolved, That the Board cannot accede to Mr Simmond's request, as they do not feel justified in expending public funds for the benefit of one individual Mr Joseph Price applied to have a road laid out from the main road at Foxhill to his leased land through some intervening land. The Surveyor was directed to ascertain whether there is a right of rood through such land aod to report. Mr John Smith tendered an account for work done on the Quail Valley road. Resolved, That the Board cannot recognise the claim, the work dot having been ordered. A form for statistics of the road district, to be filled up and. returned,, was received from the Registrar-General. Also, from the Colonial Treasurer, a form on which is to be shown the "value of rateable property as set forth in the valuation roll just made. Warrants were signed for £227 15a. Bi. ' ! ". ; '„'"■'■' ''"